Cargo Plane Carrying Five Reported Missing Off Karachi Coast

A major search-and-rescue operation is underway after a Pakistan-registered Boeing 737 cargo aircraft carrying five crew members disappeared off the coast of Karachi on Tuesday night after reporting a navigational system problem.

The aircraft, operated by private carrier K2 Airways, was flying from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates to Karachi when it lost contact with air traffic control at around 9:20 p.m. local time. Flight-tracking data indicated the plane made erratic altitude changes before rapidly descending over the Arabian Sea, raising fears that it may have crashed into the sea.

Pakistan's Airports Authority said multiple agencies, including the Pakistan Navy, Air Force and maritime authorities, have launched a coordinated search operation in the suspected crash area, around 155 nautical miles southwest of Karachi. Rough monsoon conditions and high waves in the Arabian Sea are complicating rescue efforts.

K2 Airways said it is fully cooperating with the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority and other government agencies. In a statement, the airline expressed hope for the safety of its crew and said it was closely monitoring developments.

According to aviation officials, the 27-year-old Boeing 737 freighter reported a navigational system malfunction shortly before communication was lost. Data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft underwent sharp altitude fluctuations followed by a steep descent before disappearing from radar. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the aircraft crashed, and the cause of the incident remains under investigation.

If confirmed, the accident would mark Pakistan's first major fatal aviation incident since the 2020 Pakistan International Airlines crash in Karachi. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft's technical history, weather conditions and flight data once the aircraft or its flight recorders are located.